Dutch far-right leader Wilders holds phone conversation with Nupur Sharma

Suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. New Delhi: Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders on Monday held a telephonic conversation with suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Wilders, who leads the nationalist Freedom Party in the Netherlands, posted a message on X: “Had a great talk with @NupurSharmaBJP today, she is a symbol of freedom, not only for … Read more

How the Netherlands lost its shine for big business – POLITICO

Others have slammed the capriciousness of The Hague. A stable government is a key requirement to grow companies, said Robert-Jan Smits, president of the executive board of the TU/Eindhoven and member of the Brainport Foundation supporting Eindhoven’s development. Companies “don’t want to be confronted with continuous uncertainty, as is currently happening in the Netherlands, with … Read more

Wilders abandons pursuit of Netherlands PM job – POLITICO

“I can only become prime minister if ALL parties in the coalition support it. That was not the case,” Wilders said Wednesday on X, formerly Twitter. It would be the first time since 1982 that the leader of the winning party in a Dutch general election didn’t become prime minister. Wilders said his decision had … Read more

It’s not Geert Wilders.) – POLITICO

Joost Klein’s song is heavy on references to his love of Europe, featuring lyrics including “Europe, let’s come together” or “Welcome to Europe, [I] stay until I die.” Phrases in German and Italian are sprinkled throughout the song, and there are shoutouts to traditional European dishes such as escargot, paella, and fish and chips. The … Read more

Geert Wilders leadership hopes sink as coalition talks collapse

Leader of the Netherlands’ Party for Freedom (PVV), Geert Wilders. Anadolu | Getty Images LONDON — Far-right Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders’ hopes of becoming prime minister of the Netherlands are dwindling after coalition talks fell into disarray Tuesday. Pieter Omtzigt, founder and leader of the upstart center-right New Social Contract (NSC), walked away from negotiations, … Read more

This time, the far-right threat is real – POLITICO

In 2024, the right wing surge in the polls seems bigger and bolder, with one predicting the nationalist right and far right could pick up nearly a quarter of seats in the European Parliament in June. Even if the center-right — currently tipped to come first in the election — refuses to form a governing … Read more

How the far right aims to ride farmers’ outrage to power in Europe – POLITICO

“Farmers’ anger has become a major issue for the far right across Europe,” said Kevin Cunningham, a political scientist who has studied the surge in support for the far right for the European Council on Foreign Relations. “It may not be the number one issue, it is surprisingly effective at crystalizing resentment over economic problems.” … Read more

The year in figures and charts – POLITICO

2023 was marked by crisis, transition and conflict. As the war in Ukraine dragged into its second year, the EU was confronted with yet another conflict on its doorstep: The Israel-Hamas war, which brought fresh instability to the Middle East and exacerbated divisions between EU countries. Europe now heads into a big election year and … Read more

Top 10 behind-the-paywall stories of 2023 – POLITICO

It’s been a busy year in EU policy land as lawmakers, leaders and officials raced to tie up loose ends before the European Parliament election next June, with some efforts more successful than others. The EU’s green ambitions became the center of a right-wing backlash as the real-life impact of proposed reforms started to bite. … Read more

POLITICO Europe’s most-read stories of 2023 – POLITICO

Well, here we are folks, at the end of another turbulent year. When we put this list together at the end of 2022, its contents largely covered something many of us thought we would not see again in our lifetime: a major war in Europe. Now, we are grappling with two wars in our immediate … Read more